Tag Archives: BareandMe

Laurie Anne Calkins designer of Bare and Me is looking to make a huge splash at the GBK’s 2016 Golden Globes Celebrity Gift Lounge with their collection of beautifully handcrafted “Multi Color Barrel Sapphire Collection” along with other designs and will gift their signature “Love Links Necklace” to attending celebrities. The Gift Lounge takes place January 8-9, 2016 at an exclusive location in Hollywood, California.

“We love, love here at Bare and Me. Our hope is that the recipients love our love links necklace as much as we loved designing and creating it for them”…

Bare and Me (http://www.bareandme.etsy.com) & (http://www.bareandme.com), in association with The Artisan Group®, will be displaying a beautifully crafted collection of their barrel sapphire and sleeping beauty statement pieces along with several other signature designs. Bare and Me will gift its Love Link Necklace to celebrities visiting The Artisan Group’s exhibit. The Gift Lounge takes place January 8-9, 2016 at an exclusive location in Hollywood, California.
Laurie Anne Calkins, designer/founder of Bare and Me is known for her dainty, fresh and everyday jewelry designs for todays fashionista. You can find her on Etsy where her shop is most notably known to Brides for her wide variety of shiny, pretty little baubles for Bridesmaid Gifts. She has grown in popularity since she opened her shop Bare and Me on Etsy in January 3, 2014. You can find her most days on the front page of Etsy’s “Editors Picks” or on Etsy’s 2015 Wedding Look Book. She has been featured in Brides Magazine, Style Me Pretty, Ruffled Blog, Refinery29 and most notably they were featured on the cover of Weddings Illustrated in 2014 for her handcrafted floral crowns from sister shop Lillyput Lane Design Company on Etsy.
The gifted Love Links Necklace to celebrities attending the GBK’s Gifting Lounge is made with mixed metal; sterling silver/gold filled beaded wire hard-wired into love links with a double strand of dainty sterling silver chain. Laurie says, “The meaningful sentiment behind our Love Links Collection is two souls intertwined for eternity, the perfect gift for lovers, Mother and Child or just your best friend”.
Laurie is hard at work bringing handcrafted beauty to the celebrity world but she also is one of the co/founders and CFO of Urban Bar-B-Que Company which was just featured in Entrepreneurs Magazine for Best Franchises for quick serve restauranteurs. They recently just opened their 10th location. Although she is successful in the restaurant business, her love of creating and designing jewelry is where her passion is.
Journalists who would like to reach out to Laurie can do so using the Email button at the right-hand side of this press release.

With summer in full force, and the heat a bit out of control, I have seen many sporting loose and light fitting clothing to stay cool yet flirty for the warm months to come. Whether it is a long maxi dress, or a flowy romper, styles from different generations are coming back into play.

What is cool about 2015 is that so many different styles are welcomed, are there is no exact way that someone should dress. I have always been one who likes to go with the flow of trends but I also like to put my own twist on my fashion so it is nice to see that people are being original this summer.

One of the first trends that I like seeing this summer is a higher wasted maxi skirt mixed with a crop top or a tank top tucked into it. Many girls/women are seen sporting this look but what they do is put their own splash of creativity into it. Here you see a very flirty look of a girl wearing a beautiful yellow maxi skirt (which looks amazing on her skin tone) mixed with a beautiful lace cropped top. The mix of the two makes for a perfect beach vacation date night.

Another trend that I have been seeing a bunch and is one of my favorite is a loose fitting maxi dress, either paired with a belt to add some shape around the waist, or tide up at the bottom and paired with a pair of cute wedges or strappy sandals.

In the picture below, this girls decided to tie the bottom up and wear a pair of strappy wedges for what seems to be a night out on the town. To dress the outfit up, she added a statement necklace to tie it all in together. Drop the necklace and wedges, and this would be a perfect outfit for a day of shopping or a lunch with the girls.

I am definitely a huge fan of this look, especially in the crazy heat of Summer 2015. Rompers are probably the greatest things in the world, but I always found that with my body type it is always hard to find the perfect fit. I am a huge fan of the romper below because it is loose fitting but still has a bit of shape to it. Another thing that I love about it is the print, which can either be played up or down, depending on the day or night planned. Because of the pattern, you do not need to wear much jewelry with it and just pair it with some strappy sandals for a fun filled day, but if you are ready for a night out on the town, you can pair it with some bangles and cute wedges.

Last but not least, and one of my personal favorites is this matching top and bottom piece that has just recently become more popular over the summer. I love this outfit because you do not need to worry about matching one or the other with another piece of clothing. Its such a cute outfit for a night out on the town and in this specific outfit, I love the tribal print designs that are placed in great places. The outfit has a lot going on but its the perfect amount. Its a statement outfit that doesn’t need any other big pieces paired with it. Other than a cute pair of wedges or strappy sandals, its a well put together outfit!Whatever you wear this summer, wear it with confidence, and make sure you prepare yourself for the dreadful heat.

What now? What 9-5 job am I going to be working now? I was always so excited to graduate. All of my friends were holding on for dear life, but I was always anticipating the new chapter in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I still am so excited to start that chapter, but right now, I feel like I am stuck between the flip of a page…not really sure where I want to go next. Maybe, just maybe, I want to re read that last chapter. Replay it all in my mind and go back to see if I could do anything different. Maybe I want to start a new book altogether.

But it doesn’t work like that. As much as I want it to, it doesn’t. Life is a whirlwind of up’s and down’s, unexpected treasures, and terrible decision making.

Why is the real world so scary to me?

I have been interviewing at a couple different places these first weeks off from school. None of them are what I want. My major was Communication Studies with a focus in Public Relations/Event Planning. I pretty much had this idea of who and what I wanted to be, and then..well…graduation happened.

I don’t know who the hell I want to be. at all.

It is a devastatingly terrifying feeling to not know what you want in life.

You know that moment when you are on a roller coaster and you are inching your way up just waiting to hit that bump and fly back down again? That anticipation that scares the shit out of you but also is really thrilling at the same time?

Every single day. Every moment of every day. I am thinking about when that bump is going to happen to me, and I am going to be thrown into a new adventure, a new 9-5 adventure that we call the real world.

Like I said, Im still flipping the page. My roller coaster got stuck at the top and is just waiting for that moment to hit full speed.

I am not saying I am not ready. I am just saying, maybe it is the fear of the unexpected that makes me cringe a bit.

The fear that maybe I will not succeed. The fear that I might let myself down, or worse than that, the people around me.

But as I sit her thinking about it all, and feeling bad for myself, I’m realizing how completely ridiculous I sound. EVERYBODY goes through this. EVERYBODY gets scared.

Maybe not now, in this exact moment, am I completely happy with where I am, but I know one day I will be successful, and proud, and ready for anything.

This is just a reminder that you will feel scared once or twice… or 500 times in your life, but that will end, and soon the excitement of a new chapter will rush in. A new chapter of ups, downs, roller coasters, and 9-5 real world jobs.

I am not your typical sappy “love” girl. I never have been but I recently just had a give-a-way for our jewels and instead of asking our girls to comment on our baubles, I asked them to comment on “what love means to them?”.

Whoa, the responses were incredible and really gave me food for thought…

Does love really fuel us that much?

Are we really so accustomed to cynicism and heartache that love is an undertone?

Well, here is my personal thoughts on “love” and what it means to me;

“For me, love is an uncontrollable emotion that leaves you still in thought, manic with crave but even more so, endless with forgiveness. What we love will always let you down at some point. Why? Because we are human. But it is your willingness to survive the hurt to believe in love that makes a truly soulful heart and a soul mate forever. I believe that “love” is the most powerful emotional known to man.”

I could write a book on this but you have to read the beautiful comments made by just wonderful people…

Christina Elizabeth Karsoyan- Love means, something you really care about and your love is unconditional to them you love that something so much you can’t even express how you feel. I love someone, and that’s everybody. So love for me means your emotions for them or whoever is unconditional.

Bre Barton Love is laughing together and not always having to be right.

Nancy P. Torres Love is what keeps me going daily, the driving force behind my intentions and actions and the answers to life’s toughest questions. Its meaning is multifaceted, changing with each circumstance and evolving with time and growth. It is the constant exchange of allowing others to come into our lives, break down our walls and evaluate what place they have in our hearts. Love is worth every sacrifice.

Chelsea Hewett Love is a babies smile or kisses from your puppy. Love is so fulfilling it’s in the moment.

Hye Rin Lee Love is the most powerful thing in the world

Erika Sánchez Love is everything

Kara Rubin Love is my four babies and their wonderful daddy!!!

Hye Rin Lee Love is all we have for me, my people and every creature.
unconditionally caring, helping, and giving my everything for all.
When you know about this really Love you would be a real person.

Anna Marie Adkins Love is never giving up on yourself, your family, and close friends.

Maura Ann Nolan Love means being that connected being that’s at the other end of the red string…that is forever supportive no matter if they believe in what you are doing or not…love means smiling to give the next person hope! Love means spreading happiness because everyone deserve to feel love and positivity and happiness by someone…love means hugging someone for just a minute longer to let the energy just take over their body!! Love

Kendra West Love is accepting that someone isn’t perfect and caring for them just as though they are. Love is putting the one you cherish before you, always. God loves me when I’m unlovable and I’m thankful for not only his love, but also my family & friends

Desiree Falcon Currently love means letting go. I was in a relationship where I finally felt safe, loved and appreciated. Due to his uncertainty of wanting kids he left me and now I’m forced to move on and pick up the pieces of my life. I still love him and his decision hurts but if he’s not happy I have to respect his decision and be happy that he was honest enough to not lead me on any further. Since this break up I have received so much love from my friends and family. I thought I was alone but I now know I’m not .

Lauryn Thomas Love bares all, knows all, love is what keeps us going!

Kristi Clumpner Love is patient and kind, the old proverb is true!

Rhonda Herring Love means my children and grandchildren. It’s that simple. I’ve never wanted another human in my life to be whole, happy and prosperous as much as I want that for them.

Shelby VanWormer love is looking into each others hearts and understanding the unique challenges we each face.

Fdrl Low Love is unconditional !

Jessica Booterbaugh Love is family. It’s caring for people and doing anything to protect or comfort them

Barbara Keel Hand Love is unconditional! Thru the good and the bad, that what makes you stronger. Been married 30 years, and I fall more in love with my hubby everyday!

Heidi Nave-Reagan Love is knowing that you have someone else with you thru it all, good, bad, ugly, or perfection.

Chelsea Oliver Love is being happy with another person no matter their flaws. Always seeing the best in that person. Someone you don’t have to pretend in front of. Someone who can still make you feel young and beautiful on your worst days. That person you still find yourself flirting with and realizing how lucky you are to have that person in your life.

Lindsay Fergerson Love is having the courage to let someone else in after being broken. Love is just one more bedtime kiss for a sweet little face. Love is hearing a little voice say “Mama” for the first time. Love is loving a child that may not be yours by blood, but by heart. Love is loving some one more than you love yourself. Love is wonderful and healing and amazing!

Victoria Rivas To me, love is when I see my fiance, if even for two minutes, and it takes away every bad thing that’s happened, every stress, anxiety, or fear. One hug takes that all away, and makes me feel like the luckiest person I the world.

Lindsey Brianne Love is not looking for perfection in another person. If you truly love someone you look past their flaws and accept them for who they are. You never want to change someone if you truly love them. Love is when you feel completely comfortable around them and they are the first person you want to tell something to. They are the first person you think of when you wake up and go to sleep. But in order to love someone else, you have to love yourself first.

Britney Johnson Love means accepting another person in the strongest way possible. It means supporting them in anything and everything, even when you may not agree on the situation.

Love means not looking for something better or seeing what’s out there. It means committing to that person because you know they complete you in every way. It doesn’t mean being a replica of another person, but rather being like a puzzle piece that fits perfectly with the other. Your traits complement each other to create better versions of you both.

Love means waking up early and whipping up pancakes in the morning just to show you care. It means going out of your way to make them smile and, without even thinking about it, dropping everything for them in those times when smiles aren’t appropriate.

Love means screaming at the top of your lungs sometimes. It means caring so damn much about that other person that you can’t help but become furious when your relationship is called into question. It means fighting to get it back.
♡♡♡♡♡

Kealy Olvera Love is wanting to do the laundry for your other half even if it means your clothes have to wait. Love is giving someone the space they need to deal with a difficult situation but still being there without hesitation. Love is helping friends in need because you wouldn’t be here without them. Love is indescribable. It’s everything and nothing at the same time. Love is what feeds my soul.

Bre Barton 💕love is caring more for someone else and their happiness than yourself. It’s the simple acts, getting dressed in the dark so you don’t wake your spouse, or picking up their favorite dessert on the way home just because, and not always having to be right. It’s those everyday simple things that help form, grow and deepen love and help it last!

Jenna Faye Laney Love means joining with another person so that you are 2 separate entities part of the same heart. It means caring and praying for someone more than yourself. It means all or nothing.

Angela Askew Iove is a reflection of our self and what God would want us to be nothing like human love to make the world a beautiful place

Mallorie Hannon ♡ is my kids being happy and healthy!

Lindsay Blane Love is a boy who takes a chance on a girl and asks them to their prom, not knowing if it would be met with rejection. Love is being in a long distance relationship throughout college and graduate school from Buffalo to Philadelphia. Love is growing up with and sometimes apart from someone but always standing by each other’s side. Love is being on vacation and sitting on the phone in the hotel lobby until the sun comes up because your girlfriend is having a tough time adjusting to college and being away from home. Love is someone who stands unwaveringly by your side for 10 years 8 months and 11 days; and marries his high school sweetheart on the 12th day. Love is 10 years, 8 months and 12 days of ups and downs that’s triumphed by love, commitment and respect. Love is our journey; my high school sweetheart, best friend, and now husband as of March 7, 2015.

Love can mean anything… A person, a place, or a thing. To me love is a person, place and a thing. Wherever my love goes I follow it, my heart knows nothing more. My love is unconditional for my husband who puts his life on the line every day for me and our daughter, we will continue to follow him around the world as long as he’s in the Military because for those I love, I will sacrifice. (Winner)

Victoria Gaffney Love is complicated. It’s losing your breath, sore cheeks from smiling, unconditional forgivness, selfless , keeping all the pain bottled and watching it explode, being strong enough for someone else, it’s seeing past faults to find greatness. Love is complicated and never explained well enough to create the feeling it gives us. Love to me is everything. And everything has love for me (Winner)

Monique Martinez Love is something everyone should get to experience at least once in their life. Love to me means taking the good times along with the bad times and embracing them. Love is ups and downs BUT always sticking together. You can love someone… BUT being IN LOVE with someone is the best feeling in the world. Love is seeing the person you love smile everyday. (Winner)

Mercedes Patterson What love means to me? I simply feel that love is, kind, humble and peaceful. Being kind and humble I feel brings love to one another. This is a kind of love that you don’t need to spend years with people, or even know them for that matter. But what a simple “I thought about you” or “Good Morning” can warm, and bring a sense of peace to the heart!

Love is about my family & being with my husband any chance we get. Being in the military, he will miss our daughter’s milestones, our birthdays, holidays, etc. Love is reassuring him I will still be here every time he returns, just like I promised!

Morgan Morton Love is the best feeling in the world. It’s about giving your all and not expecting anything back. Having butterflies every time you think of that special someone, being child or spouse. You will never forget what it feels like or lose hope. It’s amazing!!!

Heather Welsh-Brockett Love is my beautiful children… The strength of my parents from above giving me the courage to go out each day and never give up hope that peace and love will surround my babies and I… I am truly humbled every day by what I get back

Eliza Marie Esparza To me… Love is conquering everything out there that attacks a relationship. Whether it’s with your children, spouse, friends, or family. Love is seeing beyond the past of one another and loving each other with all flaws anyway. Love is picking up each other’s broken pieces and renewing the heart as a whole designing it to be stronger and doing everything in your power to stay in a person’s life. Love is waking up at 3 in the morning thinking about that special someone even if they’re right by your side. Love is putting that one person before anything and everyone else. Love is whatever makes you keep going; makes you feel confident, beautiful, joyful, and strong… Powerful… Complete. Love may make you do stupid things sometimes, but for the most part, love gives you the drive to wake up every morning and want to be and do better. It makes you want to shoot towards success with your every dying breath. Love is certainly a necessity to everyone, for it can keep even the most sad person going and it can change lives in incredible ways! Love is more than just a feeling.. It is a lifestyle.

Sarah Richey 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
This is what love means to me!

Adina Catherine Love is knowing your pregnancy would be complicated with twins in the same sac n placenta .love is knowing 50/50 chance you’ll get to hold your babies ..love is not knowing day-to-day if your premie 2#12oz and 3#6oz babies will be in the hospital for a while 45 and 110 days exactly..love is
not being able to be mom ..love is having a twin daughter with trachea tube and no nursing and another twin daughter to balance your every moment around now that they are home and love is never doubting the power of love between mother and daughters

Angela Askew Liked and shared love is good for the soul and inspires joy to the heart .that was taught to transform something beautiful to bring two souls together as one !

Johanna Sepulveda-Shah Love is the person who knows how damaged you are and never gives up in showing you that you are worth it. You are special, beautiful, smart and loved. Love is the feeling of coming home after a long days work and having your little girl run into your arms and say, “mommy I missed you!”

Susan Paolucci Musetti Love is my husband working his but off to support his kids and I then coming home late and still taking care of me without complaint. I have MS and have very limited mobility and use if my hands and my husband picks up the slack without a complaint. That’s love.

Angela Milam Acceptance

Britney Johnson Love is complete acceptance: When we allow someone to be exactly as they are, without any belief that they aren’t good enough, without any belief that they would be “better” if they were different, this is love.

Love is completely unconditional: Love has no conditions. When we truly love someone, we can’t stop loving them, regardless of what they do or say. If our love is dependent upon the other person acting and speaking how we want, then this love is completely conditional. We often confuse this to be love, but this is just positive thoughts about someone. This is just loving what a person says or does, not loving them. Positive thoughts or the thought “I love you” isn’t necessary to love. Sometimes it even gets in the way.

Love is selfless: True love doesn’t want anything in return, because there is nothing it needs. We just love for the sake of love. When we love someone, we don’t look for them to fill our needs, love us back, and all those types of things. If that is what we are looking for, then we are just using the other person. What is the meaning of love? Love is completely selfless
Love comes in many different forms ♡

Angel Lynn Love to me is honesty and loyalty. It’s a pure feeling that can not be misunderstood. When you have love you have the beauty of knowing what true happiness is. Sharing love with someone is so powerful that nothing can come between. What a beautiful thing to have. Love is marrying my best friend September 4, 2015.

Ellen Richard Henchy Dickason Love is…making eye contact across the room and giving each other that special smile. Love is…laughing at the same time over something silly. Love is…sitting in silence and holding hands knowing you are each there for the other. Love is….

Tori McCrea Love is committing to that person, regardless of how you feel or your circumstances. Love is not a passing feeling but a firm commitment to being there no matter what may happen. Love is being held with no words after you’ve found out you lost your baby. Love is hearing your husband up every night praying for you when you’ve lost your speech due to a brain injury. Love is KNOWING that he’ll be there no matter what trials may come your way.

Victoria Rivas To me, love is when I see my fiance, if even for two minutes, and it takes away every bad thing that’s happened, every stress, anxiety, or fear. One hug takes that all away, and makes me feel like the luckiest person I the world.

Aubrey Wagner-Stuart Love is exactly what you say in those amazing, meaningful vows when you get married… to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part My husband and I have faced many ups and downs in over 15 years together, but somehow we have stayed strong and stayed in love, despite all the hard things that life throws at you, and I am ever so grateful for that (and for him!!)

Susan Crispeno Berkheimer Love to me is someone who will stand by you no matter what is going on and respect you! Love is unconditional

Brittany White Love is waking up in the morning and realizing that you are with your best friend. Love is looking into that persons eyes and realizing that you are the luckiest person in the world. Love is learning how to forgive. Love is staying up all night and talking about everything and nothing all at the same time. Love is the soft kisses and tight hugs at the end of a long day. Love is seeing the good, the bad, and the ugly and still wanting to stay by their side. Love is unconditional, patient, understanding, and giving. Love is getting butterflies from a single touch. Love is wanting to be a better person. Love is lifting others up. Loving is the enlightenment of the soul. It is you and it is me.

Jennifer Marie Having true support and a best friend who is there to laugh with you!

Tameka TheMrs Love is God.. Happiness and everlasting.. Love is the memories you hold close to your heart. Moms are Love..

Cinthia Saul Villalobos Will to take care of to the end with nothing in return love

Candice Garcia Love is unconditional wether it be family friends or whom ever you share it with,Love is unconditional

Melissa Esquivel Love is when someone accepts you the way you are with a good or bad past no judgment love is wanting you with all your flaws love is helping each other grow n motivate each other to be better to laugh be silly be kind to respect to honor to appreciate its family love is god given never too be taken for granted love is the best feeling in the world and everyone deserves to be loved

Stephanie Cartrette My husband of 20 years, my two children and my dog!!

Celene Casarez Love is joy that fills the heart, its family, and seeing your children, the smiles the shine in their eyes know that nothing maters more than the unconditional love that family and being a mother brings, good us good and the best gift he can give a woman is being a mother

Ursula Bonilla Love is an unconditional feeling that no matter how upset you are you wont stop loving that person. Love is putting someone’s feelings before yours because you want that person to be the most happy, and when that person you love is happy in every way… you are happy. Love is to think about that one person throughout the entire day..

Claudia Barreda Love is understanding the battle everyone goes through and seeing past that, it is seeing past the scars and finding beauty in them. God loved us unconditionally he didn’t see the bad or the ugly he just seen our heart love is doing just that.

Maria Mercado love is god without even a Lil bit of him it’s impossible . ….when you love something it will get protected from every thing . .like he does us….even when it’s love for our children and it’s tough we are still protecting them…..it’s funny warm understanding protective we take care of wt we love in any way there is so much more too much but this is all for now

Shilo Alexander Berg Any act of selflessness is an act of love. Love isn’t just hearts and rainbows… It’s also passion and pain and intensity.
LOVE MAKES YOU FEEL ALIVE

As I said in my last post, I was very interested in having all my bridesmaids pick their own dresses in a shade of light gray to blue-gray. Each of my bridesmaids would be comfortable in the dress, it would fit their budget, and it adds a bohemian element to my big day! I was so excited to start the adventure of discovering each dress, especially with my Maid of Honor, Mary.

A little about Mary… She and I met in design school about 4 years ago. Though we have only known each other for a short amount of time, I feel like I have known this girl my entire life. We share a lot of the same interests, one of them being design. We both don’t take ourselves seriously, so every time we are together, we cry from laughing so hard. We have our own language. She is the only person I can spend hours upon hours on the sofa watching Mary Kate & Ashley movies, without being judged. She has been there for me through thick and thin. She has one of the kindest hearts and truly cares for the people she loves. I am so lucky to be a part of her life and her of mine.

The only requirements that I had given Mary for her dress was that it had to be a shade of light grey to blue-gray and it had to be floor length. Mary found a few dresses that she liked; a lot had a lace applique on the top with a chiffon skirt. We narrowed our choices to three, but there was clearly a first choice. The consultant told us that she was not sure if this dress could be produced in the color that we wanted. She said that she would call us on Monday to confirm whether or not we could. Crossing our fingers…Mary and I hoped that this dress could be made the way we wanted. On Monday, we found out that the lace applique could not come in the “graphite” color! The dress was perfect for Mary and I could tell that she loved it so much, so did I! So I asked them if we could have the lace applique in ivory and the rest of the dress in the “graphite” chiffon. The bridal consultant called the designer and said it wouldn’t be a problem! YAY!

Tip: If you are planning a wedding and you want your bridesmaids to pick different styles and colors of dresses, then make sure you ask the vendor to send you a fabric swatch of the materials. This way, you can see what colors blend well with the shades that you’ve already picked. We have 4 more dresses to go…Here is a few pictures from our trip!

Here is the link to the beautiful Jasmine Dress that Mary chose to wear on me and Matt’s wedding day! Great start, Maryfish. Love you…

-They let me vent, but they tell me when I am obsessing over something and “seriously need to chill”. By doing so, they let me work things through in a much healthier way, and I end up much better off. They always help me to see that the glass is always half full, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

To drink a little too much with (of course, if you’re 21) and dance on the tables in public..yes in public.

– My friends are always the first on the dance floor, and the last to leave. We do not care what anybody thinks, and of course we love to make a fool of ourselves.

To try on an insane amount of outfits with before you pick the absolutely perfect one for a night out on the town!

-I have this problem where I NEED to try on every piece of clothing in my closet, but each of my friends will be there, saying yes, no or maybe, to each and every one, until I feel ready for a night out.

4. Talk about boys with/ cry over boys/ scream over boys

-Every single one of us has been through a terrible heartbreak, but no matter what, we have always been there to pick up the pieces. We love each other that much.

-Even though I snore a lot and I hog the blankets, they still let me cuddle when I am feeling lonely and just want some company. Thats love right there.

Facebook and Instagram “stalk” crushes

-We know every one of our passwords and we all go on the same page and stalk the same people. I am not sure if it is a good idea that I am putting this on here for all of you to see, but don’t deny it, we all do it. We go full blown hacker when we want to find something out.

To be honest no matter what

-Even though the truth may hurt, we all tell each and every one of each other the truth, and we aren’t scared to hear it. We know that at the end of the day, thats all that really matters, and we care enough about one another to coach each other through the struggles that we call “everyday life”

“Okay don’t judge me but…” They never will

– We know everything about each other, and we have never once judged each other for it. We never hesitate to speak out and let the others know what happened, because we know that each and every one of us will take it to our graves.

“SOS” There before you finish the text

-Whether it is something totally serious like getting out of an awkward or scary encounter, or something silly like picking out a “first date outfit”, my best friends will always jump to help, and be by my side before I know it.

Talk in accents with

-Seriously, all we do is talk in an accent. British, southern, you name it. We know it. Sometimes in public we like to see how far we can go until someone notices that we are very American, and have zero accent.

This past year has definitely been a roller coaster of events for myself along with my loved ones. We have experienced great loss, and in the most unexpected and worst possible way. But there are so many things that I learned throughout the whole process.

1. Stop Blaming Everyone Around You

Sometimes, things are meant to happen. As awful as that sounds and as much as I hate to admit it, everything happens for a reason. Bad things happen to good people, and although I cant possibly wrap my head around the concept, I have to believe that there are better places out there. Having said that, this past year I learned that I cant blame the bad events that happen on the people who are closest to me. I find that I am always trying to find the shortcut out of things instead of dealing with it head on. Nobody can ever tell the future. So I need to be there for them, like they have always been there for me.

2. Love Myself

Yeah, I have made my fair share of mistakes. But this past year has helped me to realize that I need to forgive myself, and move on. I may not have to forget about what happened, but I should always stay true to myself and love myself for all that I am. Now that I can truly love myself, I can fully let others into my life, the way it should be. It seems like such a simple concept, if you think about it. But really think about it. How many of you are harder on yourselves than any of the others around you? How many times have you made a mistake and not been able to shake it off? I know I have. This sounds like a big fat cliche’, but in order to love someone else, you need to love yourself first.

3. Change is Good

This is definitely one of the hardest things I have had to find the truth in. I know that, without a doubt, nobody should make you change who you are, and you should never try to change someone else, but we are all a work in progress. By allowing yourself to make mistakes and to grow from them, you will be able to be the best version of yourself. Not anybody else, but yourself. You are going to have bad days, and you are going to have great days, and there will always be people there to go through it with you.

With this weather really putting a damper on my state of mind lately, all I have been thinking about is the summer and what I want to be doing. Obviously, with graduation around the corner, I am thinking about taking two-three weeks off to do some traveling. I certainly do not have the money to be doing anything crazy, like oversea’s traveling, but I never realized how many beautiful places are in the United States that go unnoticed. So, chances are, this is where I’ll be!

This beautiful sight to see is called Antelope Canyon and it is located near Page, Arizona. It is known as the “Instagrammers Dream” because of its unique and natural colors. In the middle, where the two sides come together, there is a beam of light that comes up from above. It is known as “The Crack” or the “Corkscrew”!

I may or may not want to be proposed to in this tulip field which was sent from heaven. Who wouldn’t want to be? This looks like it was made out of a dream that nobody wants to wake up from. It is known as the Skagit Valley Tulip Fields which is located in Washington State. I cannot believe I have never heard of this wonderful place until now, but I am glad I did.

My grandmother was born and raised in Arkansas, a place that I have always been interested in traveling to. But now that I have seen this beautiful amazing wonderful spot, I am without a doubt heading there, and hopefully soon. Although I am fairly scared of heights, I cannot pass up a place as adventurous and beautiful like Whitaker Point, Arkansas. This place would be awesome to go with a bunch of friends who are looking for some adventure. It is called Hamilton Pool, and is located in Texas. It is especially popular in the summer when people are looking to take a quick dip in one of nature’s amazing creations. Story goes that thousands of years ago this pool was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion. And just somehow, this masterpiece took its place. This is called Lake Tahoe, which borders Nevada and California and is known as the largest freshwater lake in North America! What better place to spend some time with the family and relax for a while.

One of my favorites, and the last on my list, is called Thor’s Well, which is located in Oregon. The best time to see this powerful sight is an hour before high tide to and hour after low tide. Although the sight does draw you in without a doubt, it is exceptionally dangerous and sight seers are asked to proceed with caution. Knowing me, myself, and I, chances are I would get too close and fall right in, but at least the last thing I would see is this amazing place.

Like this:

I have never been much of a fan of wearing bulky things on my wrists, but lately I have been obsessing over watches, especially when I get to layer them with bracelets. Now, I know that watches can range in prices, and usually the ones that last longer are the ones that are more expensive, but why not indulge in something that you will take care of for a very long time? I have a variety of watches that are different in so many ways, ranging in price, style, and size. I love each of them for so many different reasons, but mostly because you can wear them with just about anything!

This first watch, which is gold in color is perfect to wear with any style outfit, no matter what event you are on your way too. I love the thickness of the band, and the clear style of the watch head itself. It is great to layer with bracelets because of how slick and low key it is. You can wear this watch on the job as well as out on a date. You can play it up, or wear it by itself! This watch is a Marc Jacobs original, and although it might be on the pricier side of things, it will last you a lifetime and you will look fabulous!

This next watch is definitely cost appropriate if you are looking for something fun and unique. I have been obsessing over leather bands lately, and the face of the watch definitely plays it up a bit, making for a fun, down to earth outfit. You can find this watch at Francesca’s, which has an abundance of cool accessories for any fashionista out there.

Kate Spade is one of my favorite brands out there. I absolutely love their purses, but my heart belongs to all of their watches. Each watch is different in so many ways, but you can always tell that they are a Kate Spade original. I love layering their watches with their bracelets, which can definitely play up an outfit. Kate Spade is a little on the pricier side of the spectrum, but if you are looking for a great watch that will last you a long time, this is the place to look!

One of my New Years Resolutions was to get myself back into tip top shape for this upcoming summer. I have been going to the gym and focusing on things the make myself stronger. I noticed that my body is always hurting when I do not take care of myself, so being in and out of the gym almost every day has been the best possible thing for me. I can slowly feel myself getting stronger, and it is the absolute best possible feeling, especially during this cold winter. Now that I have been consistently stretching and keeping my muscles warm, I have felt so great. I am not as tired, and I always am ready to run around and have some fun. Last year I napped way too much because my body was always tired, and my head was not in it. Now, things are getting a lot easier for me. A lot of the stuff I have been doing do not require extra weights or going to the gym, so you dont need a gym membership or spend money.

Both of these workouts are simple and do not require a lot of time. I know that many of you are busy, and never can really find the time for yourself to get to the place where you want to be physically. These workouts, if done correctly, take up to 5 minutes of your day. Right when you wake up in the morning and before you head to work you can do these, or right before you go to bed every night.

Consistency is key when you are doing small workouts like these. I know when I first started doing them, the next day I would be terribly sore and would not want to do it again. But now that I am passed the soreness, I just want to get better and better. Once you get into the rhythm of things, it will only feel natural for you to work yourself out.

I always had soccer to fall back on when I didn’t feel like working out. I always knew that I would get a good workout from running down the field, so I never worked out outside of it. I always relied on it. Now that I am done playing soccer, I need to keep myself healthy. This has been a great start to the beginning of a new me! A new and healthy me!!!!